Apparatus for detecting ferromagnetic objects at a protected doorway assembly

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for protecting an entrance to a protected area comprises a magnetic sensor to measure an ambient magnetic field or gradient within a first zone of sensitivity at a non-magnetic sensor means adapted to detect the presence of objects within a primary detection zone, a signal processing circuit arranged in communication with the magnetic sensor apparatus and non-magnetic sensor apparatus, and a warning device operable by an output signal from the signal processing circuit, the warning device adapted to provide an alarm. The signal processing circuit identifies temporal variations due to the movement of a ferromagnetic object within the ambient magnetic field and correlates them with instances in which the non-magnetic sensor means detects the presence of an object in its detection zone, and causes the alarm to operate in the event that the correlation is indicative of the presence of a ferromagnetic object in the primary detection zone. It also determines the direction from which an object is approaching the using signals from the non-magnetic sensor means and modifies the operation of the warning device dependent on the direction.

This invention relates to apparatus for use in protecting a doorwayassembly, a protected doorway and a method of protecting a doorway. Itis especially, but not exclusively concerned with the reduction offalse, or unwanted, alarms associated traditionally with such apparatus.

The present invention relates to apparatus for detecting the presence offerromagnetic objects and to a protected doorway assembly for a roomwhich include an apparatus for detecting ferromagnetic objects and inparticular to a device for detecting the presence of ferromagneticobjects in the vicinity of the doorway of a room containing a magneticresonance imagining (MRI) scanner.

In GB 2 395 276 there is taught an apparatus which is able to detectferromagnetic objects by providing a primary sensor means comprisingfirst and second passive magnetic sensors which detect the disturbancesin the ambient magnetic field which occur as the object moves throughthe field. The apparatus also includes a secondary non-magnetic sensormeans which detects movement of objects in the vicinity of the primarysensor means. If both the primary and secondary sensing means detect amoving object an alarm is triggered. It is proposed in that patent thatthe apparatus may be mounted to the wall on either side of a doorway toa room containing a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, with thesecondary sensor means being arranged to detect objects approaching orabout to pass through the doorway. Because both the primary andsecondary sensors must detect the object this arrangement helps toreduce false alarms.

The apparatus described above works very well to warn people who may beunintentionally about to take a ferromagnetic object into an MRI room.It is known that there have in the past been several unfortunateaccidents which have occurred due to a ferrous object entering an MRIroom and being magnetically propelled, at high velocity, into the MRImachine within the room. This is called the projectile effect, and iswell described in GB 2 395 276.

Recently there is a trend towards providing doors within the doorway ofan MRI room which open outwards, i.e. out of the room. This means thatthe door will pass through the zone of sensitivity of an apparatus whichis located on the wall outside of the room.

There are two issues that might give rise to a problem with a systemthat monitors the doorway for ferromagnetic objects. Firstly, the doorwill often carry ferromagnetic items, such as door handles or lockparts, and as the door and items move through the zone the alarm may betriggered giving a false alarm due to Eddy currents being formed withinthe door handles or lock parts or the door itself. Secondly, where thesecondary sensor means comprises a light beam the door will move toblock the light beam and then any ferromagnetic object within the rangeof the primary sensor means but not about to pass through the door willtrigger a false alarm.

It has been proposed to solve this problem by placing a detectionapparatus on the inside of the MRI room when an outward opening door isprovided. This ensures the door does not pass through the zone ofsensitivity of the secondary sensors of the apparatus. However, theapplicant believes this is not a good solution. MRI rooms are subject tohigh levels of magnetic radiation from the MRI device, which could causeinterference with the apparatus. For this reason many people do not likehaving any active part of the system on the inside of the room.Similarly, MRI devices are sensitive to external radiation and so theapparatus may need to be shielded to prevent it from interfering withthe MRI device. It has been proposed to switch off the apparatuswhenever the door is closed to ameliorate this problem but thisintroduces further complexity and a further source of unreliability.Placing the sensors inside the zone being protected also means that thealarm will only go off after an unsafe object has already entered theprotected zone.

Alternatively, the problem can be solved by placing the apparatussufficiently far in front of the doorway on the outside of the room forthe door not to enter the zone of sensitivity. However, this will causethe apparatus to take up a lot of space, and barriers may then be neededbetween the apparatus and the doorway to prevent people entering theroom without passing through the zone of sensitivity. In the case of adoorway in the sidewall of a corridor it may be impractical to installthe apparatus in such a manner as it would block the corridor.

A still further alternative solution is taught in WO 2012/022971, inwhich a pair of light beams are used that are arranged relative to thedoor such that with the door open both of the beams can be broken as aperson passes through the doorway, setting off an alarm, yet at no timeduring opening of the door will the door itself cause both beams to bebroken. This ensures that opening of the door does not trigger thealarm. Apart from the two beams being present the system can function inmuch the same way as that taught in GB 2 395 276 but with a door thatopens outwards.

With all of the systems described above, and indeed all othercommercially available systems known to the applicant, there areoccasions where false alarms can occur, or correct but unhelpful alarmsmight occur.

A first situation in which a false alarm can arise is when the system istriggered by the movement of a door which contains ferromagneticmaterial. The doors to an MRI room, for instance, are often solid metaldoors to provide shielding that prevents radiation entering or radiationescaping from the room through the door. As the metal moves through themagnetic field powerful eddy currents can be generated in the door whichare detected by the system. Then, as a person or object passes throughthe door a false alarm is triggered as the system perceives the personor object to be ferromagnetic when it is actually the door.

Another situation which is considered by some operators to beundesirable is the generation of an alarm when a person who is carryingor wearing a ferromagnetic item, or perhaps pushing a ferromagneticobject intentionally into the room. This is not a false alarm as such,merely an undesirable one. A typical scenario would be a trainedoperative entering the room whilst wearing an underwired bra which hasbecome magnetised. This will trigger an alarm even though it is a safesituation and the operative is experienced and may be trusted enough tomake the decision that the alarm can be disregarded.

Unwanted alarms will also be issued when a person or object is leavingthe room and is detected by the system. For instance, an operativemoving a ferromagnetic object out of an MRI room will cause an alarm tobe issued despite their being no associated risk.

Unwanted alarms may lead to irritation of the operatives, and could leadto them paying less attention to genuine useful alarms.

An object of the present invention in at least one of its aspects is toameliorate some of the problems described hereinbefore.

According to a first aspect the invention provides apparatus forprotecting an entrance to a protected area, the apparatus comprising:

a magnetic sensor apparatus adapted to measure an ambient magnetic fieldor gradient within a localised volume of space defined by a first zoneof sensitivity of the at least one magnetic sensor, and to produce acorresponding measurement signal,a non-magnetic sensor means adapted to detect the presence of objectswithin a primary detection zone in the vicinity of the magnetic sensormeans,a signal processing circuit arranged in communication with the magneticsensor apparatus and non-magnetic sensor apparatus, anda warning device operable by an output signal from the signal processingcircuit, the warning device adapted to provide within the vicinity ofapparatus at least one of an audible alarm and a visible alarm,and further in which:the signal processing circuit is configured to identify temporalvariations in the measurement signal due to the movement of aferromagnetic object within the ambient magnetic field and to correlatethe identified temporal variations in the measurement signal withinstances in which the non-magnetic sensor means detects the presence ofan object in its detection zone, and in which the signal processingcircuit is arranged to cause the warning device to operate in the eventthat the correlation is indicative of the presence of a ferromagneticobject in the primary detection zone,and further in which the signal processing circuit is adapted todetermine the direction from which an object is approaching the doorwayfrom the output signals from the non-magnetic sensor means and to modifythe operation of the alarm dependent on the direction of approach.

The non-magnetic sensor means may comprise a first non-magnetic sensoradapted to detect the presence of objects within a primary detectionzone and a second non-magnetic sensor adapted to detect the presence ofobjects within a second detection zone, which may only partially overlapthe primary detection zone or may not overlap any of the primarydetection zone. The first and second sensors may be discrete devices ormay be provided using a single device configured to perform two sensingfunctions, in effect allowing a single device to act as both first andsecond sensors.

The second non-magnetic sensor may have a zone of detection that is atleast partially different to that of the first non-magnetic sensor andthe signal processing circuit may determine that the object hasapproached from one direction if the object has entered the seconddetection zone before it enters the first detection zone and hasapproached from a different direction if it enters the first zone ofdetection before the second zone. The direction of travel is thereforedetermined by combining the outputs of the two sensors.

The protected area may comprise an MRI room, the door being anentrance/exit to/from the room.

The invention therefore provides a non-magnetic sensor means thatproduces sufficient information that the apparatus and is able to modifythe alarm under certain conditions corresponding to an objectapproaching the door from one direction compared with the alarm if theobject approaches from a different direction.

The non-magnetic sensor means may be arranged so that an objectapproaching the door from within the protected area enters the secondzone of detection before the first zone, and in that event it maysuppress the alarm. This means that the alarm is not issued if a personor object is leaving the protected area. If the object is detected asentering the protected area, or about to enter, the alarm may not besuppressed.

The modification to the alarm may comprise suppressing the alarmcompletely, or partially. For instance if the alarm is both audible andvisible, the audible part may be suppressed whilst the visible alarm isstill issued.

The second non-magnetic sensor may in a position of use be arranged todetect an object approaching the doorway from within the protected areaprior to the object being detected by the first non-magnetic sensor sothat the alarm is suppressed whenever an object, such as a person,approaches the doorway from within the protected zone. This allows thealarm to be suppressed as an object or person leaves the protected zone.

In such an arrangement the signal processing circuit may suppress thealarm for a defined period of time sufficient to allow a person to movethrough the doorway entering and then leaving the detection zone of thefirst sensor apparatus.

The delay may be from 10 seconds to 30 seconds. It is preferred that thedelay is kept as short as possible. This can be achieved best byarranging for the third sensor to only detect an object approaching avery short distance prior to the second sensor being triggered.

In an alternative the period of time need not be predetermined, and thesignal processing circuit may suppress the alarm until such time as theobject has entered and then left the detection zone of the first sensorapparatus.

The applicant has appreciated that there is no need to raise an alarmwhen a person or object is leaving a protected area, such as an MRIroom, and suppressing the alarm will in effect halve the number of timesthe alarm may operate when a person or object that is ferromagneticpasses through the doorway. Reducing the number of times the alarmsounds in this way may lead to an increase in safety as well as usersatisfaction with the apparatus as alarms issued when a person is safelyleaving a room are considered a nuisance.

The protected area may comprise the inside of an MRI room and the seconddetection zone may in use cover an area extending into the room acrossthe doorway. The first detection zone may be located in the entrance orclose to the entrance, i.e. outside of the MRI room. Indeed as long asan object must pass through the first detection zone in passing throughthe entrance, but will enter the second detection zone prior to enteringthe first zone when leaving the protected area. the skilled person willappreciate that there is flexibility in the choice of detection areas.

The first non-magnetic sensor and the second non-magnetic sensor mayeach comprise an optical sensor and a light beam, the beam extendingacross a region of space that defines a respective detection zone. Forthe second non-magnetic sensor to define a detection zone within the MRIroom the light source may be located on the outside of the door andshine a beam onto a retroreflector located inside the room which sendsthe beam back to an optical sensor located outside of the room. Thisbeam can be oriented such that it connects the sensor and retroreflectorwhenever the door is open and spans the width of the doorway.

The first and second non-magnetic sensors may comprise at least one of aphoto-electric sensor, a fibre-optic sensor, a passive infra-red sensor,a camera, an ultrasonic sensor, a radar sensor, an electrostatic sensor,and a millimetre wave sensor. By photo-detector we mean any detectorwhich is able to detect incident photons, whether in the visible ornon-visible spectrum.

In one arrangement, the first non-magnetic sensor may comprise a pair ofoptical detectors, each associated with a light source which produces abeam of light that impinges on the photo-detector, the output of eachphoto-detector changing state when the respective light beam is broken.The light beams may be aligned so that they do not overlap spatially inwhich case the whole of the light beam may define the zone of detectionof the secondary sensor. Alternatively, the beams may overlap spatiallyin a region that lies outside of the respective detection zones of thetwo secondary sensors.

When used in an environment which includes a door the beams simply needto be aligned so that the door does not pass through the region in whichthe beams overlap spatially.

To aid alignment, the optical detectors and associated light sources maybe located on or within a rotatable housing or turret secured to a bodyof the apparatus, enabling the orientation of the beams to be easilyadjusted. A lock screw may be provided to fix the housing at the desiredangle once installation is complete. This rotatable housing may comprisea pod secured to a top or bottom a larger housing which accommodatesother parts of the apparatus such as the signal processor.

The applicant has realised that the rotatable housing may be used incombination with the earlier arrangement disclosed in GB 2 395 276 or WO2012/022971 the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference.By this application the applicant may seek protection for an apparatusas disclosed in that earlier application, or an apparatus described inany of the claim of this application, that includes one or more opticalsensors mounted on a rotatable housing or turret.

By rotatable we mean that the housing can be secured in at least twodifferent angular positions relative to the body of the apparatus. Itmay be positionable in an infinite number of angular positions within arange of 10 degrees, or 20 degrees or 90 degrees to each side of aneutral position. The body may, for instance, comprise an elongatehousing with the turret at one end, preferably a lower end. An alarm maybe located at the other, preferably upper, end of the elongate housing.During installation the housing may initially be secured to a wallalongside a doorway and the turret then rotated to the desired positionbefore being secured. The turret may be rotatable in one plane or in twoplanes.

In an alternative, the non-magnetic sensor means may comprise anultrasonic sensor that emits ultrasonic radiation and detects reflectedparts of the emitted radiation. It may comprise a radar sensor thatemits radar waves and monitors a reflected part of the emitted waves.Using ultrasound or radar a single sensor may be used to both detect anobject in a primary detection zone and detect the direction in which itis travelling based on the characteristics of the reflected signals.Typically these sensors rely on the transmission of short burst ofradiation which are then detected as reflections, the time of flight ofthe detected reflections being used to detect position. Using the wellknown Doppler effect the direction of travel may also be detected bylooking at the frequency of the detected reflected part and correlatingwith the frequency of the associated transmitted signals. Suchtechnology is well known in other applications, and as such theoperation of the sensor will not be described here in any detail.

An optical sensor may be used to define the primary detection zone, andan ultrasonic or radar sensor may be used to detect an objectapproaching the doorway. Alternatively, a single sensor could be used todetect objects in the primary zone and detect an object approaching thedoorway, either from within the primary zone or outside of the zone. Asingle ultrasonic or radar sensing apparatus may therefore define both afirst and second non-magnetic sensor.

The magnetic sensor apparatus may comprise at least two primary sensors,each sensor adapted to measure an ambient magnetic field or its gradientwithin a localised volume of space defined by a zone of sensitivity ofthe first and second magnetic sensors and to produce a correspondingmeasurement signal, the two sensors being secured in position with oneon each side of a doorway.

The, or each, magnetic sensor may separable from the signal processingcircuit such that, in use, the at least one separable sensor may bedisposed remotely to the signal processing means. Similarly thesecondary sensing apparatus may be separable from the signal processingcircuit and, optionally, the primary sensor apparatus.

The signal processing means may comprise filter means arranged tosubstantially reject spurious variations in the measured magnetic field.The filter means may comprise a high-pass filter and in one convenientarrangement the filter may be responsive to the measurement signalproduced by the primary sensor means to attenuate variations thereinhaving a frequency of less than 0.3 Hz.

The filter means may additionally comprise a low-pass filter which maybe responsive to the measurement signal produced by the primary sensormeans to attenuate variations therein having a frequency of greater than3 Hz.

The signal processing circuit may comprise means for comparing theamplitude of the output from the filter means with an adjustablethreshold level so as to indicate temporal variations in the measurementsignal due to the movement of a ferromagnetic object within an ambientmagnetic field.

Whilst it is advantageous under the invention of the first aspect toprevent the issue of alarms when an object is leaving a protected area,the applicant has also appreciated that a more selective suppression ofthe alarm either for objects leaving a protected area or for objectsentering the area or both entering or leaving would be advantageous.

Therefore, according to a second aspect the invention provides apparatusfor protecting an entrance to a protected area, the apparatuscomprising:

at least one magnetic sensor adapted to measure an ambient magneticfield or gradient within a localised volume of space defined by a firstzone of sensitivity of the at least one magnetic sensor, and to producea corresponding measurement signal,a non-magnetic sensor means adapted to detect the presence of objectswithin a primary detection zone in the vicinity of the magnetic sensorapparatus,an RF receiver which is adapted to receive an identity signal from atransducer when the transducer is within a detection zone,a memory which stores one or more identity codes corresponding torespective identities of transducers,a signal processing circuit arranged in communication with the magneticsensor apparatus, the first non-magnetic sensor apparatus and the RFreceiver, anda warning device operable by an output signal from the signal processingcircuit, the warning device adapted to provide within the vicinity ofprimary sensor apparatus at least one of an audible and a visiblewarning,and further in which:the signal processing circuit is configured to identify temporalvariations in the measurement signal due to the movement of aferromagnetic object within the ambient magnetic field and to correlatethe identified temporal variations in the measurement signal withinstances in which the non-magnetic sensor means detects the presence ofan object in its detection zone, and in which the signal processingcircuit is arranged to cause the alarm to operate in the event that thecorrelation is indicative of the presence of a ferromagnetic object inthe primary detection zone but to modify the operation of the alarm inthe additional event that the RF receiver detects a transducer which hasan identity that is stored in the memory.

The RF receiver may comprise and RFID tag reader, and the transducerradio frequency identify tags (RFID tags). The receiver may be sensitiveto ultra high frequency (UHF) or High frequency (HF) radiation, and mayhave a detection range of the order of a few tens of cms, typically upto 30 cm.

The modification may comprise suppressing the alarm if the presence ofan RFID tag of a known identity is detected by the RFID receiver.

In a refinement, rather than suppressing the alarm the system may modifythe threshold at which an alarm is triggered as a function of themagnitude of the temporal variations in magnetic field detected by themagnetic sensor when a known RFID tag is detected.

For example, the memory may store alongside each identity in the memorya value indicative of a ferromagnetic profile associated with an RFIDtag, the profile being used by the apparatus to set the threshold levelof change of magnetic field which may trigger an alarm. The circuit maylook up the value and trigger and raise an alarm accordingly.

The memory may allocate one of a set of predefined thresholds. Forinstance, some tags may be associated with a low threshold so that thesensitivity of the system is relatively high, an alarm being raised if aweakly ferromagnetic (or smaller but relatively more ferromagnetic)object is passing. Other tags may be associated with a higher thresholdso that larger objects can pass without raising an alarm. Some tags maybe associated with a value that suppresses the alarm completely if thetag is detected.

As well as allocating a threshold for each tag, the memory may alsostore information indicative of a desired duration for the suppressionassociated with each tag. The signal processor may then apply thesuppression for the time stored in the memory. Once that time haselapsed, if the tag is detected the alarm may be raised (not suppressed)if the conditions are met. It is appreciated that for some large piecesof equipment it may take a long time to move through the doorway and soa long time of suppression is needed. For smaller items, such aspersonal clothing, it can be expected they will move quickly through thedoorway so a shorter time of suppression is appropriate. Clearly, theshorter the time in which the alarm is suppressed the less the chance ofother, unidentified but potentially dangerous, items being allowed topass without an alarm being raised.

The apparatus may therefore include at least one RFID tag which can beallocated to person who is to pass through the entrance, or can be stuckto, embedded into or otherwise attached to an object that might movethrough the protected entrance.

The apparatus may further include one or more ferromagnetic objectswhich have attached thereto an RFID tag, that identity of the RFID tagbeing stored in the memory of the apparatus. Most preferably the memoryalso stores a value alongside the identity which corresponds to theferromagnetic profile of the object.

The invention of the first aspect and the second aspect can be used toreduce the number of alarms that are raised that might be considered tobe unwanted. As such the features of the first and second aspects can becombined, producing an apparatus having the second non-magnetic sensorto detect the approach of objects within the zone with the RF reader todiscriminate between different types of safe and unsafe object. However,in its own right the invention of the first or second aspect of theinvention does not directly address the situation in which the dooritself might be the cause of genuine false alarms because it is made ofor includes items of ferromagnetic material or has induced Eddycurrents.

Therefore, according to a third aspect the invention provides apparatusfor protecting an entrance to a protected area comprising:

at least one magnetic sensor adapted to measure an ambient magneticfield or gradient within a localised volume of space defined by a firstzone of sensitivity of the at least one magnetic sensor, and to producea corresponding measurement signal,a non-magnetic sensor means adapted to detect the presence of objectswithin a detection zone in the vicinity of the magnetic sensorapparatus,a signal processing circuit arranged in communication with the magneticsensor apparatus and non-magnetic sensor means, anda warning device operable by an output signal from the signal processingcircuit, the warning device adapted to provide within the vicinity ofprimary sensor apparatus at least one of an audible and a visiblewarning,wherein the signal processing circuit is configured to identify temporalvariations in the measurement signal due to the movement of aferromagnetic object within the ambient magnetic field and to correlatethe identified temporal variations in the measurement signal withinstances in which the non-magnetic sensor means detects the presence ofan object in the zones, and to cause the warning device to raise analarm in the event that the correlation is indicative of the presence ofa ferromagnetic object in the vicinity of the primary sensor apparatus;and further comprising:a door position sensing means which is adapted to monitor the angularposition of a door of the entrance, andin which the signal processing circuit is adapted to modify theoperation of the alarm in the event that output of the door positionsensing means indicates that the door is moving.

The apparatus may modify the operation of the alarm by suppressing thealarm if the door is moving, or if the door is moving and one or moreconditions are met.

Whilst suppressing the operation of the alarm if the door is movingremoves the chance of false alarms being generated, it does leave thepossibility that a ferromagnetic object may pass through the door as itis opening. It is undesirable in such an event for the alarm to be fullysuppressed.

Therefore, in a refinement the apparatus may not fully suppress thealarm if it is moving but instead alter the threshold at which an alarmis raised according to the position at which the door is located and/orthe rate at which the door is opening or closing. This allows themagnetic effects caused by the door to be compensated for.

The duration of the suppression of the alarm may be controlled by thesignal processing means. A user operable input (such as a switch orbutton) may be provided which enables the user to turn the suppressionon or off as required. For example, the apparatus may be set so that thesuppression of the alarm never happens, a so called override mode, orset so that the alarm is suppressed when the door opens/closes.

In a further refinement the apparatus may include a memory which storeshistorical data information about the change in ambient magnetic fieldin the zone of sensitivity of the magnetic sensor, and in the event thatthe output of the door position sensing means indicates that the door ismoving at the same time that the second sensor indicates the presence ofan object in the first detection zone, the apparatus is arranged tocause an alarm to be raised if the stored historical data indicates thatthe ambient magnetic field was changing prior to the start of themovement of the door.

The historical information may be obtained by sampling the output of themagnetic sensor periodically.

Looking back to a time just prior to the door moving to see if themagnetic field was changing provides a good estimate of whether aferromagnetic object was close to the door, and the raising of the alarmis made on the assumption that the same object that is in the detectionzone of the non-magnetic sensor means when the door is moving is thesame ferromagnetic object as was detected. This may lead to the occasionfalse alarm, but this may be preferable to a completely suppressedalarm.

In a refinement, the signal processing circuit may be adapted to comparethe stored historical data with baseline data and information indicativeof the position of the door to remove from the data the effect of themovement of the door, and in the event that the correlated dataindicates the presence of a moving magnetic object in the detection zoneof the magnetic sensor may reactivate the alarm.

This may allow data to be used that was recorded even when the door wasmoving, rather than looking back at historical data obtained from a timebefore the door started to move.

The apparatus may store the baseline data in memory. This data may beactual data obtained during installation of the apparatus as the door isopened and closed and the output of the magnetic sensor is sampled. Atthe same time the output of the position sensor may be sampled andstored together with the magnetic data. Each door might produce a uniquevariation in the magnetic field, and by storing this in memory it can be“substracted” from the observed change to allow the effect of movementof the door to be removed from any correlation used during the raisingof an alarm.

The door position sensing means may comprise a rotary encoder thatconnects the door and the door frame. It may comprise an optical sensorhaving a source and detector secured to the door or relative to theframe, and a reflector which reflects light from the source onto thedetector, the sensor determining the distance between the detector andreflector. It may comprise an infra red or ultrasonic distancemeasurement sensor, linear encoder, potentiometer sensor, strain gauge,camera, pneumatic bladder with pressure sensor.

The door position sensor may use infrared light. It may be combined withthe non-magnetic sensing means as a single sensing device. For example,an ultrasonic sensor or radar sensor may detect the presence andmovement of objects in the vicinity of the door, including beingsensitive to the position of the door. This can be achieved provided thedoor and the primary detection zone are in the field of view of thesensor. The sensor may also determine whether the door is moving orstationary.

According to a fourth aspect the invention provides an apparatus forprotecting an entrance to a protected area comprising:

at least one magnetic sensor adapted to measure an ambient magneticfield or gradient within a localised volume of space defined by a firstzone of sensitivity of the at least one magnetic sensor, and to producea corresponding measurement signal,a non-magnetic sensing means adapted to detect the presence of objectswithin a detection zone in the vicinity of the magnetic sensorapparatus,a signal processing circuit arranged in communication with the magneticsensor apparatus and non-magnetic sensing means, anda warning device operable by an output signal from the signal processingcircuit, the warning device adapted to provide within the vicinity ofthe magnetic sensor at least one of an audible and a visible warning,wherein the signal processing circuit is configured to identify temporalvariations in the measurement signal due to the movement of aferromagnetic object within the ambient magnetic field and to correlatethe identified temporal variations in the measurement signal withinstances in which the non-magnetic sensing means detects the presenceof an object in the zones, and to cause the warning device to raise analarm in the event that the correlation is indicative of the presence ofa ferromagnetic object in the vicinity of the primary sensor apparatus;and further comprising:a door position sensing means which is adapted to monitor the angularposition of the door relative to a door of the entrance, andand further comprising a memory which in use stores historical temporalvariations in the measurement signal due to movement of a ferromagneticobject within the ambient field, and correlation means which is adaptedto correlate the stored historical temporal variations in themeasurement signal prior to the door moving with incidences in which thenon-magnetic sensing means detects the presence of an object in itsdetection zone, and in which the apparatus is arranged to cause thewarning device to raise an alarm in the event that the correlation,albeit separated in time, is indicative of the presence of a magneticobject in the vicinity of the magnetic sensor.

The first, second, third and fourth aspects of the invention may, ofcourse, be combined to provide an apparatus that has any combination ofthe features described herein before.

According to a fifth aspect the invention provides a protected doorwayassembly for a room comprising:

a doorframe housing a door, and an apparatus according to one ore moreof the first, second or third aspects of the invention.

The doorway may comprise a doorway into an MRI room.

According to a sixth aspect the invention provides a method ofprotecting a doorway of a room, such as an MRI room, comprising thesteps of:

(a) Measuring an ambient magnetic field or its gradient using passiveprimary sensing means comprising a magnetic sensor, and producing acorresponding measurement signal;(b) Detecting the movement of objects in the vicinity of the primarysensor means using a first non-magnetic sensor means comprising at leastone sensor adapted to detect the presence of objects within a respectivezone in the vicinity of the primary sensor apparatus,(c) Identifying temporal variations in the measurement signal producedby the magnetic sensor means due to the movement of a ferromagneticobject within the ambient magnetic field within a localised volume ofspace defined by a zone of sensitivity of the magnetic sensor,(d) Assessing the identified temporal variations in the measurementsignal in conjunction with movement of objects detected by thenon-magnetic sensor means to determine a correlation there-between, and(e) In the occurrence of such a correlation and with both the sensorsidentifying the simultaneous presence of an object in their respectivezones providing an indication of the presence of a ferromagnetic object,(f) Detecting the movement of objects in the vicinity of the magneticsensor means using a second non-magnetic sensor means comprising atleast one sensor adapted to detect the presence of objects within arespective zone in the vicinity of the primary sensor apparatus which islocated so that an object may enter the zone prior to entering thedetection zone of the second sensor means,

And

(g) suppressing the alarm signal for a period of time following thedetection of an object in the detection zone of the second non-magneticsensor means prior to entering the detection zone of the second sensor.

According to a seventh aspect the invention provides a method ofprotecting a doorway of a room, such as an MRI room, comprising thesteps of:

(a) Measuring an ambient magnetic field or its gradient using passiveprimary sensing means comprising at least a first magnetic sensor, andproducing a corresponding measurement signal;(b) Detecting the movement of objects in the vicinity of the primarysensor means using second, non-magnetic sensor means, the second sensormeans comprising at least one sensor adapted to detect the presence ofobjects within a respective zone in the vicinity of the primary sensorapparatus,(c) Identifying temporal variations in the measurement signal producedby the first sensor means due to the movement of a ferromagnetic objectwithin the ambient magnetic field within a localised volume of spacedefined by a zone of sensitivity of the magnetic sensor,(d) Assessing the identified temporal variations in the measurementsignal in conjunction with movement of objects detected by the second,non-magnetic, sensor means to determine a correlation there-between, and(e) In the occurrence of such a correlation and with both the secondarysensors identifying the simultaneous presence of an object in theirrespective zones providing an indication of the presence of aferromagnetic object,wherein the step of providing the indication of the presence of aferromagnetic object comprises the step of producing within the vicinityof the primary sensor means at least one of an audible and a visiblealarm,(f) Detecting the movement of objects in the vicinity of the primarysensor means using a third, non-magnetic sensor means, the third sensormeans comprising at least one sensor adapted to detect movement of thedoor of the doorway;(g) and modifying the alarm in the event that the door is moving.

The method may comprise suppressing the alarm if the door is moving.

It may comprise, in the event that the door is moving, performing thecorrelation using only historical temporal variations in the measurementsignal obtained prior to the time that the door started to move.

According to an eighth aspect the invention provides a method ofprotecting a doorway of a room, such as an MRI room, comprising thesteps of:

(a) Measuring an ambient magnetic field or its gradient using passiveprimary sensing means comprising at least a first magnetic sensor, andproducing a corresponding measurement signal;(b) storing in a memory historical temporal variations in themeasurement signal due to movement of a ferromagnetic object within theambient field,(c) Detecting the movement of objects in the vicinity of the primarysensor means using second, non-magnetic sensor means, the second sensormeans comprising at least one sensor adapted to detect the presence ofobjects within a respective zone in the vicinity of the primary sensorapparatus,(d) Identifying temporal variations in the measurement signal producedby the first sensor means due to the movement of a ferromagnetic objectwithin the ambient magnetic field within a localised volume of spacedefined by a zone of sensitivity of the magnetic sensor,(e) Assessing the identified temporal variations in the measurementsignal in conjunction with movement of objects detected by the second,non-magnetic, sensor means to determine a correlation there-between, and(f) In the occurrence of such a correlation and with both the secondarysensors identifying the simultaneous presence of an object in theirrespective zones providing an indication of the presence of aferromagnetic object,wherein the step of providing the indication of the presence of aferromagnetic object comprises the step of producing within the vicinityof the primary sensor means at least one of an audible and a visiblealarm,(g) Detecting the movement of objects in the vicinity of the primarysensor means using a third, non-magnetic sensor means, the third sensormeans comprising at least one sensor adapted to detect movement of thedoor of the doorway;(h) in the event that the door is moving correlating the storedhistorical temporal variations in the measurement signal prior to thedoor moving with incidences in which the non-magnetic sensor apparatusdetects the presence of an object in its detection zone, and(i) and modifying the alarm in the event that the door is moving byraising an alarm in the event that the correlation, albeit separated intime, is indicative of the presence of a magnetic object in the vicinityof the magnetic sensor or suppressing the alarm if the correlation,albeit separated in time, does not indicate the presence of a magneticobject in the vicinity of the magnetic sensor.

There will now be described by way of example only, several embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a first embodiment of the presentinvention which includes a second light beam that detects the approachof objects from inside of a room;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a second embodiment of the presentinvention which includes an RF id tag reader and at least one RF id tagattached to a person or object approaching a protected doorway;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a third embodiment of the presentinvention which includes a door position sensor and which suppresses analarm if the door is moving;

FIG. 4 is a general view of a doorway of a protected MRI room showing apossible location for installing apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a view from above showing the location of the sensors and astylised representation of the associated zones of detection for theembodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a view from above showing the location of the sensors and astylised representation of the associated zones of detection for theembodiment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a view from above showing the location of the sensors and astylised representation of the associated zones of detection for theembodiment of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is an illustration of the logic used within the signal processingcircuit of the first embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is an illustration of the logic used within the signal processingcircuit of the second embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 10 is an illustration of the logic used within the signalprocessing circuit of the third embodiment of FIG. 3;

FIG. 11 is an illustration of the logic used within the signalprocessing circuit of a modified form of the third embodiment of FIG. 3;and

FIG. 12 is a set of plots of signal against time for the differentsensors of the apparatus of FIG. 2 showing how historic signalinformation is used in the event that the door is moving to determinewhether an object is approaching the protected area.

Referring to FIG. 1, a first embodiment of a protection apparatus foruse in protecting an entrance to a protected area is shown. For thepurpose of this example, the protected area is an MRI room, typically ashielded space in which a magnetic resonance imaging machine (MRImachine) is located. These rooms are often found in larger hospitals oruniversities. The entrance comprises a doorway which is fitted with amagnetically shielded, side hung, door in a doorframe. The apparatusprotects the doorway of the room by raising an alarm, in appropriatecircumstances, if it detects that a ferromagnetic object is passing orabout to pass through the doorway.

The apparatus includes a primary magnetic sensing apparatus comprising amagnetic sensor 4, such as a fluxgate sensor, a magneto-resistivesensor, a magneto-impedance sensor, a Hall Effect sensor, or a galvaniccoil sensor, that outputs a signal that is a measurement of the magneticfield incident upon the sensor 4. Sensor 4 may be an arrangement of morethan one sub-sensor such as a balanced pair or an array ofmagnetometers. Since the apparatus will typically be fixed in positionproximate a doorway that is being protected, for most of the time thesensor will register a largely unchanging magnetic field due to theearth or where the door is an entryway to and MRI machine, thecombination of the earth's magnetic field with the fringe field of theMRI's magnet. This constitutes a large offset on the output of thesensor. This constant offset can be removed using a high pass filter.The sensor will also likely measure regular changes in the magneticfield associated with the power supply for electrical equipment locatednear the doorway which will cause the output to vary at the supplyfrequency and its harmonics. This can also be filtered out using a lowpass filter. The filters collectively constitute a band-pass filter 6 toperform these functions.

It is known that it takes between 0.3 seconds and 3 seconds, typically,for a person to pass through a doorway. The reciprocal of these timesdefines the frequencies of interest in the output of the sensor 4, i.e.0.3 to 3 Hz.

If a ferromagnetic object carried, or pulled or pushed, by a personpasses close to the sensor 4, the ambient magnetic field will be alteredcausing a change in the output of the sensor 4. That change will passthrough the filter 6 and be amplified by an amplifier 8. In order totrigger an alarm the signal size is compared with a preset threshold.

Because the signal may be positive or negative, the threshold detectorconsists of a rectification stage 10 followed by a comparator 12 thathas a circuit 14 to provide a threshold voltage. Alternatively, separatecomparators are used for positive and negative signals with the outputscombined to give a single alarm signal instead of a rectifier 10 and asingle comparator 12. An optional latch 12 a may be provided which holdsthe value of the signal output from the comparator for a predeterminedperiod—perhaps up to 1 second. The output of the latch is therefore adigital signal, with either a logic “zero” value or a logic “one” value.The presence of a logic “one” value at the output of the latch will, insome circumstances as outlined below, cause the alarm to be raised.

To raise the alarm the output of the latch 12 a is fed into a signalprocessing circuit 16 whose output 18 is fed to one or more warningdevices such as an audible alarm 20 and a visual alarm 22, and anoptional external alarm 24. It has been found to be beneficial, althoughnot essential, that both a visual and audible alarm is provided.

In addition, a visual indicator 11 of the magnitude of the magneticsignal may be included. For instance, a series of amber light “bars” maybe provided which are illuminated sequentially as the output signalincreases in strength up to the threshold, and once the threshold isreached a red light may be illuminated. The output of the comparator maybe arranged to have logic level zero for the state where the signal doesnot exceed the threshold, and level ‘one’ for the state when the signalhas exceeded the threshold. Once an object has passed out of range ofthe magnetic sensor 4 the logic level returns to zero once the signallevel has dropped below the threshold. In practice, it may be preferablethat the alarm continues for an elapsed time defined by a reset delayand a latch such as a flip-flop that maintains the output at logic zerountil the button is pressed.

To reduce false alarms, the apparatus further includes a secondary,complimentary, non-magnetic sensing means 30 that senses when a personpasses through the doorway or is about to pass through the doorway. Thenon-magnetic sensing means in this example comprises a non-magneticsensor 30 having a distinct zone of protection. This zone should, ofcourse, lie at least in part within the region over which the primarysensing apparatus is sensitive to ferrous objects. The extent of thezone is shown stylised form in FIG. 5 of the drawings for a typicalinstallation of the apparatus to a door as shown in FIG. 4 of thedrawings.

In the example of the first embodiment the non-magnetic sensor 30comprises a photo-electric sensor (or any other device that is sensitiveto incident light) which is arranged to detect when a person, or otherobject, passes through a beam of light directed at the sensor. The lightbeam may be visible or invisible. The beam of light is generated by alight source 31 such as an LED, associated with the photo detector. Toprotect the doorway it passes fully across a width of the doorway about1 foot to 2 feet above the ground. The region of space through which thebeam passes defines the zone of sensitivity for the sensor. If an objectis in the path of the beam, it is in the zone, and will break the beam.Generally speaking a person or large object will break the beam as ittries to pass through the doorway. For better protection a number ofbeams may criss cross the doorway along different paths. The lightsensor and light source are located within a rotatable turret 110 at thebase of a main body 100 of the apparatus.

If the beam is unbroken, the output of the sensor 30 is a logical zeroand if it is broken by movement of an object into the path of the beam,the output changes to a logical one level. Of course, the logic could bereversed in an alternative embodiment. The output of each sensor may beheld for a period, say up to 1 second, using a latch (not shown).

The output of the sensor 30 is fed to one input of the signal processingcircuit 16, which in a simple arrangement may comprises a digital logiccircuit built using discrete digital logical elements. In its simplestform as shown in FIG. 8 this will comprise an AND gate 16 a with theoutput of the sensor 30 fed to one input of the AND gate and the outputof the gate 16 a fed to a digital latch 17. The other input of the ANDgate 16 a is fed with the output of the magnetic sensor comparator 12.

The signal processing circuit 16, in use, performs a correlationfunction between the magnetic and non-magnetic sensors. If there is acorrelation showing the beam is broken and a large change in ambientmagnetic field is present, the circuit will typically output a signalwhich is passed to the alarm circuit (as shown the direct output fromthe latch is connected to the alarm circuit).

In addition the embodiment of FIG. 1 the non-magnetic sensor meansincludes a second non-magnetic sensor 32. This comprises aphoto-electric sensor (or any other device that is sensitive to incidentlight) which is arranged to detect when a person, or other object,passes through a beam of light directed at the sensor in a similarmanner to the first non-magnetic sensor apparatus. Again the light beammay be visible or invisible. The beam of light is generated by a lightsource 33 such as an LED, associated with the photo detector 32.Importantly for this embodiment, the second beam extends across a regionclose to the inside of the room that is being protected as shown in FIG.5. The significance of this is that the order in which the beams arebroken allows the signal processing circuit to determine the directionin which an object is moving.

The beam of the second photo-electric sensor is arranged to be broken byan object that is approaching the doorway from a position inside the MRIroom, the protected area. before the beam of the first non-magneticsensor apparatus could be broken. The output of the second sensor is fedto the digital circuit 16 and in the event that it indicates that anobject has broken the second beam before the first beam has been brokenthe digital logic circuit causes a suppression of the alarm signal 18.This signal is combined with the output of the latch using a logical AND16 b gate so that as long at the suppression signal is at the logic“one” value the output of the AND gate will be low and the alarmsuppressed by holding the signal 18 at a low value.

The digital circuit includes a timer circuit which produces a timedelay, holding the suppression signal at a high logic level for a presettime of, say, 1-3 seconds. This gives enough time for an object to passthrough the doorway with the alarm suppressed.

Notably, if an object approaches the doorway from outside of the roomthe first beam will always be broken before the second, and so thesuppression of the alarm will not occur. The apparatus of the firstembodiment therefore provides suppression of the alarm for objectsleaving the protected room, whilst maintaining full alarm for objectsentering the room.

In a modified example, not shown, the signal processing circuit does notrely upon a timer to produce a set time delay for the suppression of thealarm. Instead, the alarm is suppressed until such time as the objecthas broken the first beam and subsequently the first beam has beenremade. This gives an indication that the object has cleared thedoorway.

It will be appreciated that different sensors could be provided. Insteadof optical sensors the embodiment could be implemented using ultrasonicor radar sensors. These may be arranged to provide both positioninformation, detecting objects in defined zones, or movementinformation, allowing movement of objects in the field of view to bedetected. A single transmitter and emitter could be used to provide bothposition and movement information to the signal processing apparatus.Typically sensors that can detect movement exploit the Doppler effect,and can discriminate between objects approaching or moving away from thesensor.

A second embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 2 ofthe drawings. This is generally similar to the first embodiment, and forclarity the same reference numerals have been used to denote like partsof the apparatus. In fact, the apparatus includes all of the parts ofthe first embodiment, but not the second beam that enables the alarm tobe suppressed for objects leaving an MRI room.

As an alternative to the second beam, a different type of additionalsensor 34 is provided that takes the form of an RF identification tagreader 34, a memory 50 in which identities of known RFID tags associatedwith the apparatus may be stored, and some modifications to the logicaloperation of the signal processing circuit as shown in FIG. 10. Theapparatus is intended to be used along with a number of RFID tags 40,and these may be supplied along with the apparatus. FIG. 6 showspossible locations of the sensors around a protected doorway along withstylised representations of the zones of detection of the sensors.

RFID readers are well known in the art and as such will not be describedin detail here. Suffice that the reader is arranged to provide as anoutput a digital signal providing an identity of any RFID tag that isdetected within a zone of detection. For optimal operation this zoneshould extend across a region that is further away from the doorway thatthe first beam, and at least overlaps with the zone of sensitivity ofthe magnetic sensor. Ideally, the range of detection of the readershould be quite low, perhaps only a few tens of cms around the doorway,so as to only read tags that are close to the doorway.

Before the apparatus is used, the memory is loaded with the identitiesof the tags that are supplied with the system. For this example, thereare two RFID tags and the memory stores the two Identities of the tags.These may be loaded into the memory by placing the apparatus into alearning mode, and moving each tag in turn into range of the reader.

In use, upon an object entering the range of the RFID tag reader, theidentity of the tag will be output from the reader and fed to the signalprocessing circuit. The circuit compares the tag with the identities inthe memory. If there is a match a flag is raised (moved from logic lowto logic high value) to indicate that one of the known tags is near tothe doorway. The alarm is then raised or suppressed according to thecorrelation of the output signals from the magnetic sensor and thephotodetector in the same manner described for the first embodiment. Thealarm signal is then fed to an AND gate along with the inverted value ofthe flag so that the alarm is suppressed if a known RFID tag has beendetected.

The applicant believes that this system may help remove unhelpful alarmscaused by operators passing through the doorway with ferromagneticobjects but who can be trusted to only have done so if it is safe to doso. For instance, an operator who has been trained in when it is safe tomove objects, and so can be assumed to not be taking any unsafe objectsinto a room, may carry an RFID tag and so never trigger the alarm. Thismight be desirable where the operators might be wearing underwired braswhich have become magnetised, whereas otherwise they will either alwaystrigger an alarm or be required to change their clothing.

The memory 40 may, optionally, also store a value alongside eachidentity in the memory which determines a sensitivity level at which thelatch will be triggered. For instance, a more trusted user may beprovided with a tag which is associated with a higher threshold and aless experienced user given a tag associated with a lower threshold.Then, when a tag is identified by the circuit the level at which analarm will be triggered can be set according to the corresponding valuestored alongside it in the memory.

This later feature in particular is envisaged as useful where a tag issecured to a ferromagnetic object such as a trolley. The object willhave a ferromagnetic profile as seen by the magnetic sensor when it ismoved into the detection range of the magnetic sensor. In particular theprofile dictates the peak change in magnetic field that is expected tobe observed by the magnetic sensor due to the presence of the object.This can be used to set the threshold at which the latch triggers, sothat the object alone cannot set off the alarm but the presence of anymagnetic object in addition to the object will take cause the thresholdto be exceeded and so an alarm may be raised.

A still further embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 3. Again those partswhich are the same as the first and second embodiments have beenrepresented by like reference numerals. The apparatus includes amagnetic sensor 4 and a first photodetector 30 that detects a break of alight beam that extends across the doorway of a room being protected.

In addition, a door position sensor 36 is provided in this embodimentwhich produces an output signal indicative of the angular position ofthe door. The location of the door sensor is shown in FIG. 7 of thedrawings. The output of this sensor 36 is fed into a signal processingcircuit, such as that shown in FIG. 10, which processes the signal todetermine the position of the door at a given time and also whether thedoor is moving or stationary. In this example it does so by comparingthe position at the given moment in time with the position shortly priorto this. Feeding the door position signal into a first in last out(FILO) buffer in memory provides enough information to achieve this.

The signal processing circuit generates a door moving signal with alogical high value if the door is moving and logical low value if it isstill. This is then combined with the output of the latch using alogical AND gate to provide a signal that is fed to the alarm device.The alarm is therefore raised if the latch output is high, indicatingthat a ferromagnetic object has broken the beam of the photoelectricsensor, but is suppressed if the door is moving.

Suppressing the alarm if the door is moving allows the apparatus to beused with ferromagnetic doors which might otherwise cause false alarmsas they move.

In a modification, shown in FIG. 11, the apparatus includes anadditional memory which stores historical ambient magnetic fieldinformation from the magnetic sensor. The signal processing circuit,shown schematically in FIG. 11, upon the door moving signal going highto indicate that the door has started to move, stops using the output ofthe magnetic field sensor for the current time as the basis fordetecting the presence of a ferromagnetic object moving in the zone ofsensitivity and instead looks at historical values stored in the memoryprior to the door moving signal going high. If this provides anindication that a ferromagnetic object was moving in the zone ofsensitivity just before the door moved, the circuit will then overridethe logical high value of the door moving signal so that the alarm is nolonger suppressed, the alarm instead being raised.

By looking at the historical data, the alarm can remain active buteffect of the moving door on the operation of the alarm is removedbecause the apparatus relies instead on the information obtained priorto the door moving.

FIG. 12 illustrates the signals from the magnetic sensor, the opticalbeam, the door position sensor and the RF receiver when a ferromagneticobject approaches a door that then starts to move, as would be the casewhere a person carrying the object approaches the door and then pushesit open.

As can be seen, when the signal processing circuit detects that the dooris moving it looks back in time at the magnetic signal before the doorstarted to move. If this indicates that a ferromagnetic object wasmoving in the detection zone of the magnetic sensor as shown the alarmcondition is raised. The RFID tag condition is then checked to see ifthe alarm should be suppressed. If there is a known RFID tag detected itmay suppress the alarm or modify it according to information held aboutthe RFID tag.

The skilled person will understand that any of the features of theseembodiments can be introduced into any other embodiment. For instance,the door moving suppression can be implemented in conjunction with thesecond optical beam to suppress the alarm as an object leaves a room.

It should also be understood that the simplified discrete logic circuitsthat have been illustrated are not to be construed as limiting. Analmost limitless set of possible digital circuits could be readilyimplemented that achieve the same overall logical function, usingcombination of OR, AND, NOR, NAND and XOR gates, either as discreteelements or as logical steps in a computer implemented program executedon digital processing device.

1. Apparatus for protecting an entrance to a protected area, theapparatus comprising: a magnetic sensor apparatus adapted to measure anambient magnetic field or gradient within a localised volume of spacedefined by a first zone of sensitivity of the at least one magneticsensor, and to produce a corresponding measurement signal, anon-magnetic sensor means adapted to detect the presence of objectswithin a primary detection zone in the vicinity of the magnetic sensorapparatus, a signal processing circuit arranged in communication withthe magnetic sensor apparatus and non-magnetic sensor apparatus, and awarning device operable by an output signal from the signal processingcircuit, the warning device adapted to provide within the vicinity ofprimary sensor apparatus at least one of an audible alarm and a visiblealarm, and further in which: the signal processing circuit is configuredto identify temporal variations in the measurement signal due to themovement of a ferromagnetic object within the ambient magnetic field andto correlate the identified temporal variations in the measurementsignal with instances in which the non-magnetic sensor means detects thepresence of an object in its detection zone, and in which the signalprocessing circuit is arranged to cause the alarm to operate in theevent that the correlation is indicative of the presence of aferromagnetic object in the primary detection zone, and further in whichthe signal processing circuit is adapted to determine the direction fromwhich an object is approaching the doorway from the output signals fromthe non-magnetic sensor means and to modify the operation of the warningdevice dependent on the direction of approach.
 2. Apparatus according toclaim 1 in which the non-magnetic sensor means comprises a firstnon-magnetic sensor adapted to detect the presence of objects within aprimary detection zone and a second non-magnetic sensor adapted todetect the presence of objects within a second detection zone. 3.Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the non-magnetic sensor means isarranged so that an object approaching the door from within theprotected area enters the second zone of detection before the first,primary, detection zone, and in that event it may suppress the alarm. 4.Apparatus according to claim 2 or 3 in which the second non-magneticsensor in a position of use is arranged to detect an object approachingthe doorway from within the protected area prior to the object beingdetected by the first non-magnetic sensor so that the alarm issuppressed whenever an object, such as a person, approaches the doorwayfrom within the protected zone.
 5. Apparatus according to any one ofclaims 2 to 4 in which the second non-magnetic sensor has a zone ofdetection that is at least partially different to that of the firstnon-magnetic sensor and the signal processing circuit in use is adaptedto determine that the object has approached from one direction if theobject has entered the second detection zone before it enters the firstdetection zone and has approached from a different direction if itenters the first zone of detection before the second zone.
 6. Apparatusaccording to any preceding claim which is adapted to suppress the alarmfor a defined period of time sufficient to allow a person to movethrough the doorway entering and then leaving the detection zone of thefirst sensor apparatus.
 7. Apparatus for protecting an entrance to aprotected area, the apparatus comprising: at least one magnetic sensoradapted to measure an ambient magnetic field or gradient within alocalised volume of space defined by a first zone of sensitivity of theat least one magnetic sensor, and to produce a corresponding measurementsignal, a non-magnetic sensor means adapted to detect the presence ofobjects within a primary detection zone in the vicinity of the magneticsensor apparatus, an RF receiver which is adapted to receive an identitysignal from a transducer when the transducer is within a detection zone,a memory which stores one or more identity codes corresponding torespective identities of transducers, a signal processing circuitarranged in communication with the magnetic sensor apparatus, the firstnon-magnetic sensor apparatus and the RF receiver, and a warning deviceoperable by an output signal from the signal processing circuit, thewarning device adapted to provide within the vicinity of primary sensorapparatus at least one of an audible and a visible warning, and furtherin which: the signal processing circuit is configured to identifytemporal variations in the measurement signal due to the movement of aferromagnetic object within the ambient magnetic field and to correlatethe identified temporal variations in the measurement signal withinstances in which the non-magnetic sensor means detects the presence ofan object in its detection zone, and in which the signal processingcircuit is arranged to cause the alarm to operate in the event that thecorrelation is indicative of the presence of a ferromagnetic object inthe primary detection zone but to modify the operation of the alarm inthe additional event that the RF receiver detects a transducer which hasan identity that is stored in the memory.
 8. Apparatus according toclaim 7 in which the non-magnetic sensors are arranged so that an objectapproaching the door from within the protected area enters the secondzone of detection before the first, or primary, zone, and in that eventit may suppress the alarm.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 7 or 8 inwhich the RF receiver in a position of use is arranged to detect anobject approaching the doorway from within the protected area prior tothe object being detected by the first non-magnetic sensor apparatus sothat the alarm is suppressed whenever an object, such as a person,approaches the doorway from within the protected zone.
 10. Apparatusaccording to any one of claims 7 to 9 which is adapted to suppress thealarm for a defined period of time sufficient to allow a person to movethrough the doorway or entering and then leaving the detection zone ofthe first sensor apparatus, optionally in which the time of suppressionis varied according to the identity of the RF tag that is detected. 11.Apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 10 in which the RFreceiver comprises an RFID tag reader, and the transducer radiofrequency identify tags (RFID tags).
 12. Apparatus according to claim 11in which the modification comprises suppressing the alarm if thepresence of an RFID tag of a known identity is detected by the RFIDreceiver.
 13. Apparatus according to claim 11 or 12 in which themodification comprises modifying the threshold at which an alarm istriggered as a function of the magnitude of the temporal variations inmagnetic field detected by the magnetic sensor when a known RFID tag isdetected.
 14. Apparatus according to claim 13 in which the memory storesalongside each identity in the memory a value indicative of aferromagnetic profile associated with an RFID tag, the profile beingused by the apparatus to set the threshold level of change of magneticfield which may trigger an alarm.
 15. Apparatus according to any one ofclaims 11 to 14 which includes at least one RFID tag which can beallocated to person who is to pass through the entrance, or can be stuckto, embedded into or otherwise attached to an object that might movethrough the protected entrance.
 16. Apparatus for protecting an entranceto a protected area comprising: at least one magnetic sensor adapted tomeasure an ambient magnetic field or gradient within a localised volumeof space defined by a first zone of sensitivity of the at least onemagnetic sensor, and to produce a corresponding measurement signal, anon-magnetic sensor means adapted to detect the presence of objectswithin a detection zone in the vicinity of the magnetic sensorapparatus, a signal processing circuit arranged in communication withthe magnetic sensor apparatus and non-magnetic sensor apparatus, and awarning device operable by an output signal from the signal processingcircuit, the warning device adapted to provide within the vicinity ofprimary sensor apparatus at least one of an audible and a visiblewarning, wherein the signal processing circuit is configured to identifytemporal variations in the measurement signal due to the movement of aferromagnetic object within the ambient magnetic field and to correlatethe identified temporal variations in the measurement signal withinstances in which the non-magnetic sensor means detects the presence ofan object in the zones, and to cause the warning device to raise analarm in the event that the correlation is indicative of the presence ofa ferromagnetic object in the vicinity of the primary sensor apparatus;and further comprising: a door position sensing means which is adaptedto monitor the angular position of a door of the entrance, and in whichthe signal processing circuit is adapted to modify the operation of thealarm in the event that output of the door position sensing meansindicates that the door is moving
 17. Apparatus according to claim 16which is arranged to modify the operation of the alarm by suppressingthe alarm if the door is moving, or if the door is moving and one ormore conditions are met.
 18. Apparatus according to claim 16 or 17 whichis arranged to modify the operation of the alarm by altering thethreshold at which an alarm is raised according to the position at whichthe door is located and/or the rate at which the door is opening orclosing.
 19. Apparatus according to any one of claims 16 to 18 thatincludes a memory which stores historical data information about thechange in ambient magnetic field in the zone of sensitivity of themagnetic sensor, and in the event that the output of the door positionsensing means indicates that the door is moving at the same time thatthe non-magnetic sensor indicates the presence of an object in the firstdetection zone, the apparatus is arranged to cause an alarm to be raisedif the stored historical data indicates that the ambient magnetic fieldwas changing prior to the start of the movement of the door. 20.Apparatus according to claim 19 in which the signal processing circuitis adapted to correlate the stored historical data with baseline dataindicative of the variation in the output of the magnetic sensor due tomovement of the door alone and information indicative of the position ofthe door to remove from the data the effect of the movement of the door,and in the event that the correlated data indicates the presence of amoving magnetic object in the detection zone of the magnetic sensor toraise the alarm.
 21. Apparatus according to claim 20 in which thebaseline data comprise actual data obtained during installation of theapparatus as the door is opened and closed and the output of themagnetic sensor is sampled.
 22. Apparatus according to any one of claims16 to 21 in which the memory in use stores historical data from a periodof at least one second, or at least 5 seconds, before the door opening.23. Apparatus according to claim 22 in which the memory includes at most5 seconds, or at most 10 seconds, or at most 30 seconds of historicaldata.
 24. Apparatus according to any one of claims 16 to 23 in which thedoor position sensing means comprises a rotary encoder that connects thedoor and the door frame or infra red or ultrasonic distance measurementsensor, linear encoder, potentiometer sensor, strain gauge, camera,pneumatic bladder with pressure sensor.
 25. Apparatus for protecting anentrance to a protected area comprising: at least one magnetic sensoradapted to measure an ambient magnetic field or gradient within alocalised volume of space defined by a first zone of sensitivity of theat least one magnetic sensor, and to produce a corresponding measurementsignal, a non-magnetic sensing means adapted to detect the presence ofobjects within a detection zone in the vicinity of the magnetic sensorapparatus, a signal processing circuit arranged in communication withthe magnetic sensor apparatus and non-magnetic sensor apparatus, and awarning device operable by an output signal from the signal processingcircuit, the warning device adapted to provide within the vicinity ofthe magnetic sensor at least one of an audible and a visible warning,wherein the signal processing circuit is configured to identify temporalvariations in the measurement signal due to the movement of aferromagnetic object within the ambient magnetic field and to correlatethe identified temporal variations in the measurement signal withinstances in which the non-magnetic sensor means detects the presence ofan object in the zones, and to cause the warning device to raise analarm in the event that the correlation is indicative of the presence ofa ferromagnetic object in the vicinity of the magnetic sensor apparatus;and further comprising: a door position sensing means which is adaptedto monitor the angular position of the doorway, and and furthercomprising a memory which in use stores historical temporal variationsin the measurement signal due to movement of a ferromagnetic objectwithin the ambient field, and correlation means which is adapted tocorrelate the stored historical temporal variations in the measurementsignal prior to the door moving with incidences in which thenon-magnetic sensing means detects the presence of an object in itsdetection zone, and in which the apparatus is arranged to cause thewarning device to raise an alarm in the event that the correlation,albeit separated in time, is indicative of the presence of a magneticobject in the vicinity of the magnetic sensor.
 26. Apparatus forprotecting an entrance to a protected area comprising a combination ofany of the features of claims 1 to
 25. 27. Apparatus according to anypreceding claim in which the protected area comprises an MRI room, thedoor being an entrance/exit to/from the room.
 28. Apparatus according toany preceding claim in which modification to the alarm comprisessuppressing the alarm completely, or partially.
 29. Apparatus accordingto claim 28 in which the warning device is adapted to produce bothvisual and audible alarms and the modification comprises suppressing theaudible but not the visible alarm.
 30. A protected doorway assembly fora room comprising: a doorframe housing a door, and an apparatusaccording to any preceding claim.
 31. A method of protecting a doorwayof a room, such as an MRI room, comprising the steps of: (a) Measuringan ambient magnetic field or its gradient using passive primary sensingmeans comprising at least a magnetic sensor, and producing acorresponding measurement signal; (b) Detecting the movement of objectsin the vicinity of the primary sensor means using a first non-magneticsensing means adapted to detect the presence of objects within arespective zone in the vicinity of the primary sensor apparatus, (c)Identifying temporal variations in the measurement signal produced bythe magnetic sensor means due to the movement of a ferromagnetic objectwithin the ambient magnetic field within a localised volume of spacedefined by a zone of sensitivity of the magnetic sensor, (d) Assessingthe identified temporal variations in the measurement signal inconjunction with movement of objects detected by the non-magnetic sensormeans to determine a correlation there-between, and (e) In theoccurrence of such a correlation with both the magnetic and non-magneticsensing means identifying the simultaneous presence of an object intheir respective zones providing an indication of the presence of aferromagnetic object, (f) Detecting the movement of objects in thevicinity of the magnetic sensor means using a second non-magneticsensing means adapted to detect the presence of objects within arespective zone in the vicinity of the magnetic sensor apparatus whichis located so that an object may enter the zone prior to entering thedetection zone of the first non-magnetic sensing means, and (g)suppressing the alarm signal for a period of time following thedetection of an object in the detection zone of the second sensing meansprior to entering the detection zone of the first non-magnetic sensingmeans.
 32. A method of protecting a doorway of a room, such as an MRIroom, comprising the steps of: (a) Measuring an ambient magnetic fieldor its gradient using passive primary sensing means comprising at leasta first magnetic sensor, and producing a corresponding measurementsignal; (b) Detecting the movement of objects in the vicinity of theprimary sensor means using second, non-magnetic sensor means, the secondsensor means comprising at least one sensor adapted to detect thepresence of objects within a respective zone in the vicinity of theprimary sensor apparatus, (c) Identifying temporal variations in themeasurement signal produced by the first sensor means due to themovement of a ferromagnetic object within the ambient magnetic fieldwithin a localised volume of space defined by a zone of sensitivity ofthe magnetic sensor, (d) Assessing the identified temporal variations inthe measurement signal in conjunction with movement of objects detectedby the second, non-magnetic, sensor means to determine a correlationthere-between, and (e) In the occurrence of such a correlation and withboth the secondary sensors identifying the simultaneous presence of anobject in their respective zones providing an indication of the presenceof a ferromagnetic object, wherein the step of providing the indicationof the presence of a ferromagnetic object comprises the step ofproducing within the vicinity of the primary sensor means at least oneof an audible and a visible alarm, (f) Detecting the movement of objectsin the vicinity of the primary sensor means using a third, non-magneticsensor means, the third sensor means comprising at least one sensoradapted to detect movement of the door of the doorway; and (g) andmodifying the alarm in the event that the door is moving.
 33. A methodof protecting a doorway of a room, such as an MRI room, comprising thesteps of: (a) Measuring an ambient magnetic field or its gradient usingpassive primary sensing means comprising at least a first magneticsensor, and producing a corresponding measurement signal; (b) storing ina memory historical temporal variations in the measurement signal due tomovement of a ferromagnetic object within the ambient field, (c)Detecting the movement of objects in the vicinity of the primary sensormeans using second, non-magnetic sensor means, the second sensor meanscomprising at least one sensor adapted to detect the presence of objectswithin a respective zone in the vicinity of the primary sensorapparatus, (d) Identifying temporal variations in the measurement signalproduced by the first sensor means due to the movement of aferromagnetic object within the ambient magnetic field within alocalised volume of space defined by a zone of sensitivity of themagnetic sensor, (e) Assessing the identified temporal variations in themeasurement signal in conjunction with movement of objects detected bythe second, non-magnetic, sensor means to determine a correlationthere-between, and (f) In the occurrence of such a correlation and withboth the secondary sensors identifying the simultaneous presence of anobject in their respective zones providing an indication of the presenceof a ferromagnetic object, wherein the step of providing the indicationof the presence of a ferromagnetic object comprises the step ofproducing within the vicinity of the primary sensor means at least oneof an audible and a visible alarm, (g) Detecting the movement of objectsin the vicinity of the primary sensor means using a third, non-magneticsensor means, the third sensor means comprising at least one sensoradapted to detect movement of the door of the doorway; (h) in the eventthat the door is moving correlating the stored historical temporalvariations in the measurement signal prior to the door moving withincidences in which the non-magnetic sensor apparatus detects thepresence of an object in its detection zone, and (i) and modifying thealarm in the event that the door is moving by raising an alarm in theevent that the correlation, albeit separated in time, is indicative ofthe presence of a magnetic object in the vicinity of the magnetic sensoror suppressing the alarm if the correlation, albeit separated in time,does not indicate the presence of a magnetic object in the vicinity ofthe magnetic sensor.